Mi Heng

Mi Heng (173-199) was a politician of the Han Dynasty in the service of both Cao Cao and Liu Biao. He was known to be arrogant, and was executed by Huang Zu in 199 for rudeness.

Biography
Mi Heng was an intellectual from Jing Province in central China, and when Kong Rong was suggested as an ambassador to Liu Biao for Cao Cao by Xun You, Kong Rong said that Mi Heng had ten times his intellect and recommended him. Mi Heng visited the palace in Xuchang, where Cao Cao met with him. He claimed that all of Cao Cao's generals were fools: "The men you have mentioned are all known to me, only too well. Xun Yu is good for attending funeral ceremonies or the bedridden, Xun You for guarding graveyards. Cheng Yu would show remarkable talent in service as a gatekeeper, and Guo Jia's real talent lies in reading prose and reciting verse. Zhang Liao is equal to the task of tapping chimes and drums, Xu Chu for tending cattle and horses. Yu Jin can be employed carrying blocks and constructing walls, Xu Huang slaughtering pigs and dogs. Xiahou Dun should have the title 'Whole-Bodied General' and Cao Ren 'Well-bribed Governor'. The rest are so many clothes racks, rice sacks, wine casks, meat sacks...". His quote offended Cao Cao, who made him a simple drummer. Without being indignant in declining, Mi Heng accepted.

However, Mi Heng was not over with. At a performance, Mi Heng performed with the drums while naked, saying that he was purer than Cao Cao. Cao Cao was embarrassed in front of everyone in attendance, so Mi Heng was dragged around by horses, torturing him. Mi Heng asked again to be made ambassador to Liu Biao rather than a drummer, so Cao Cao agreed, but only to "borrow Liu Biao's hand" to slay Mi Heng.

Mi Heng traveled to Jing, where he met with Liu Biao and asked for his help with fighting against Yuan Shao to the north. He was later sent to the company of Huang Zu, a general of Liu Biao, and Huang Zu was offended when Mi Heng compared him to a god, but in a derogatory sense, saying that he accepted sacrifice but lacked any intelligence. Huang Zu had him executed for his insults, getting rid of a pain to Cao Cao without making Cao losing popular favor.